Afflalo was born at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, only a few minutes' walk from Pauley Pavilion, where the UCLA Bruins play their home games. His parents are Benjamin Afflalo and Gwendolyn Washington. He has a younger sister named Paris. Afflalo majored in sociology at UCLA and was on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll for Spring 2005. Afflalo declared for the 2006 NBA Draft, but pulled his name out before the deadline, opting to return to UCLA for his junior season. Afflalo has been one of the top players in the country as a junior earning a spot on the Associated Press All-America team. This honor makes Afflalo UCLA's first consensus All-American since Ed O'Bannon in the 1994-95 season. He was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the 1st round of the 2007 NBA Draft, making him the 27th pick overall.